A Little About Me...

Life is always changing and therefore so is this portion of the website.  I'm a photographer, its what I love, second only to my wife and she may raise an eyebrow at that most of the time, but its true.  I graduated with a degree in photography from Sacramento State University in 2004 and work around the clock to stay on top of everything that goes on here at the studio.  In addition to the portrait and wedding studio I am also a working landscape photographer.  I write for photographic websites and magazines, teach photography workshops and continue to produce new images for galleries that carry my work.  I've been fortunate enough to have been recognized with many international awards, have my work in many private collections such as that of Kaiser Permanente and Microtek USA and to have been shown internationally in Tokyo, German, London and New York.  My work is available for collectors and as home or office decor, if you'd like to see what I do or are interested photography workshops head on over to my fine art site, www.edwardmendesphotography.com.

What to know how I got into photography?  Here's that story too.

Sometimes disappointing events turn out to be the best things that ever happen to you.  In high school I was set to attend the local University, I was accepted and the papers were signed.  Unfortunately I couldn't pass my last math class and thus, junior college bound...disappointment #1.  The junior college I was attending, Modesto, had an art requirement for transferring students so I enrolled in a basic drawing class.  Unfortunately I can't draw, a point that was driven home when the instructor laughed at my in-class assignment on the first day; drawing wasn't for me...disappointment#2.  I found a photography class that fit the requirement and gave it a try as I've always liked to take pictures.  I quickly learned that photography was much more than point, shoot and run to the local camera store to get my pictures back.  However I also discovered I had a strong desire to learn more and go further; A few semesters and a few more photo classes later I transferred to the local University I was accepted to a couple years earlier, only as a business major (photography wasn't offered).  However I kept going back to the junior college everyday just for photography classes.  After two or three semesters I discovered business wasn't for me...I hated it.  A year or so wasted...disappointment #3.

Finally, I decided to make the jump and go for photography.   I transferred to CSU Sacramento in the Fall of 2002, something I should have done a year and a half earlier but oh well.  My extra time at the junior college allowed me to grow as a photographer, in part because I worked so hard on my own, and my failed time at the local University allowed me to see photography is what I want to do.  I opened Edward Mendes Photography in the Spring of 2003 after I discovered that my studies and the commuting to Sacramento everyday made it difficult to keep my job with another local photographer's studio.  I figured the flexibility of working on my own schedule would be perfect for my erratic days.  I was quite hesitant at first as I consider myself to be very shy, but apparently people tell me I'm much more of a people person than I think I am.  Its been a lot of late nights and hard work to get the studio off the ground but it seems to be paying off.  I graduated from Sac St. in December 2004 with my degree in photography and the studio is growing quickly.  Long story short, sometimes disappointment is the path to happiness...and math is useless.

I was married in September of 2006 to my high school sweetheart Sarah and she acts as my second photographer during many weddings. Sarah is formally educated in art and her compositions and style with the camera, plus her friendly and easy going nature, creates a wonderful sense of calm and friendship between her and the bridal party, which is how she creates such beautiful images.

Edward Mendes
September 2009

Edward and Sarah

Photo by Sarah Mendes

Photo by Edward Mendes